Atlas of Heaven and Man.

Chapter 1452 Tracing Back and Retrieving Lost Items

Once the matter was settled, Chen Chuan withdrew from the secret space.

Ming Chengzi and Mu Xiaoren came to greet them.

They were not surprised by this result at all, but Ming Chengzi felt that Chen Chuan's promise to find the descendants of the imperial lineage was too good to Bi Lingzi.

At the same time, he felt that Chen Chuan was not simply using force to suppress people, but had a different kind of vision, which strengthened his resolve to follow him.

He said, "Xuanji responded to the Piling Cult members, could it be that he already knows the whereabouts of the descendants of the previous dynasty?"

Chen Chuan said, "I have some ideas. Do you remember, Gao Gong? Empress Cao was also surnamed Cao, but we did not see Empress Cao's remains in the palace. Emperor Wen Guang once said that the descendants of the previous dynasty should come and retrieve them. Since he said so, I think there must be a reason for this."

Upon hearing this, Ming Chengzi's heart stirred. He said, "Does Xuanji mean that Empress Cao is a descendant of the previous dynasty?"

Well, the Cao family ancestors did have some connection with the descendants of the previous dynasty's royal family, but not the main branch, unless..."

He stroked his beard and said, "Could it be that the Cao family is intentionally covering this up?"

He thought about it again and realized that it was possible. The legitimate branch of the previous dynasty's imperial lineage was the most feared identity, and it was very likely that they would try to cover it up.

Chen Chuanchuan said: "There is another reason why I infer that Empress Cao was a descendant of the Cao family. Empress Cao's children were also descendants of the Yuan family. After her, the secret treasure would return to the Yuan family. What difference would that make from the descendants of the previous dynasty or from the hands of Emperor Wenguang?"

"That makes sense, that makes sense! Xuanji is right!"

Ming Chengzi nodded repeatedly. If the direct descendants of the Cao family really existed, then they could be found if one wanted to.

If all else fails, he thinks there is another way: select one descendant of the Cao family to be adopted into the main branch and let him be responsible for the ancestral worship of this lineage. This is also feasible in terms of patriarchal system.

However, this requires the recognition of the current legitimate dynasty, such as the Great Shun, rather than a pseudo-dynasty like the last dynasty.

He asked, "But where exactly is Empress Cao? Does Xuanji perhaps already know her whereabouts?"

Chen Chuan had already considered the possible whereabouts of Empress Cao. She was either sent away a long time ago or she was still in the palace.

Once inside the palace, only those with a certain level of martial prowess were targeted; others were not the primary focus and could potentially be overlooked.

If Empress Cao is still there, the army is currently counting the identities and numbers of people in the palace, and the results should be available by the time they return. If she is not there, then there is another possibility, which is also the most likely one.

He said, "As for the high merit of the Mingcheng, I believe that Emperor Wenguang's actions have already given us the answer."

Ming Chengzi thought for a moment, then suddenly realized what he meant. His expression shifted, and he blurted out, "The Duanchen Sect?"

Chen Chuan nodded.

If Empress Cao were not in the palace, how could Emperor Wenguang, with his selfish nature, possibly let her escape his control? Unless Empress Cao had someone protecting her, and he needed that person.

Excluding all other possibilities, based on the current situation, the most likely explanation is that it is the Duanchen Sect. Empress Cao may have joined the Duanchen Sect, or she may have been a disciple of the Duanchen Sect from the beginning.

The Duanchen Sect might be trying to use Empress Cao to share in this part of the secret treasure, but they might be overthinking it; the other side might actually want to free Pilingzi. However, judging from Pilingzi's behavior just now, he might not know about this.

Ming Chengzi thought about it more and more and felt it was possible. He said, "If that's the case, the person might be in the Duanchen Sect. I'm willing to go to the Duanchen Sect to go on Xuanji's behalf."

Chen Chuan said, "It will be troublesome for Master Mingcheng to make the trip, but we need one more person."

He looked at Pilingzi opposite him, conveyed his guess to him through mental communication, and finally said, "High Priest Piling, what do you think?"

Pi Lingzi thought for a moment and replied, "If that's the case, then I've gone to the long way instead of the near." He bowed to the two of them and said, "Thanks to Xuanji, I was enlightened. Since it may be related to my Duanchen Sect, I should go there myself. Please wait a moment, you three."

With a slight exertion of his magic, Pi Lingzi created a clone, and Ming Chengzi created one as well. The two of them left together and headed towards the location of the Duan Chen Sect.

Pi Lingzi then invited Chen Chuan and the other two to the mountain to entertain them.

Inevitably, the path to breaking limits was discussed. Pi Lingzi did not shy away from talking about himself. He said, "Our Duan Chen School emphasizes entering the world and then leaving it. If you want to sever the world, you must first sever the world. Among these, the time of dynastic change is when there are the most connections and the deepest burdens. Therefore, the things we take on are usually related to this."

Others might think that staying here in vain is not worthwhile, but this is precisely my cultivation. If I can complete each stage of my cultivation, I may be able to break through the barriers and ascend to the higher realms. Since ancient times, the higher realms have been hard to attain. If I can achieve my wish, staying here for several hundred years is truly nothing.”

Chen Chuan understood that reaching the upper levels was by no means easy. If one could reach the top by following the proper path of study, then waiting a little longer was nothing, and even quite worthwhile.

Besides, as a fighter from the Dongxuan Temple, Pilingzi can project his power outwards; he's not just staying here. Otherwise, he wouldn't have that much combat experience.

However, he has a problem.

“I saw that the High Priest Biling set up the secret ritual as his own domain, and used a lot of rare items from the other side of the world. But I didn’t see the High Priest use any of the lost items. Does that mean that the treasures you all mentioned are things that the High Priest is unwilling to use?” There must be some usable lost items in the secret treasure. Moreover, judging from the situation, Bilingzi can take what he wants from the secret treasure. Borrowing them shouldn’t be a problem. It would be very helpful for him to protect the secret treasure. But he didn’t use any of them from beginning to end.

In fact, this was what he was most wary of at the beginning. It was hard to say how many items a person could leave behind, or what their purpose was. Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to be so cautious.

Pi Lingzi was somewhat helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to use it; if he could make use of the lost item, he certainly wouldn't refuse.

Only some valuable items require special tools to open; without them, he cannot enter. Only ordinary valuables are exempt from these restrictions.

He explained the reason, and Chen Chuan finally understood the situation. After thinking for a moment, he added:

"The external calamity mentioned by the Xuanjiao is about to arrive in about a year. How does the High Priest of Spirit-Clearing plan to deal with it?"

When Pi Lingzi heard him mention this, his expression turned serious. He said, "If I succeed, I will go beyond the heavens to seek out the ancestors. If I fail, I will join forces with my fellow Daoists to fight against the demons beyond the heavens."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly and said, "Fighting against extraterrestrial beings is also a national policy of the Great Shun Dynasty. Perhaps there will be a time when we can cooperate with Gao Gong."

Pi Lingzi looked at him, bowed, and said, "If it is a profound mystery, I am willing to accept it."

The three of them drank tea and chatted for less than three hours before the clones of Pi Lingzi and Ming Chengzi returned.

As expected, Empress Cao was in the Duanchen Sect, and this time they brought her here as well.

Empress Cao arrived at the cliff, first greeting Bi Lingzi, and then turning to Chen Chuan.

"This must be Chen Xuanji."

She bowed to Chen Chuan and said, "The Ding Dynasty is dead, and the tyrant Yuan Xin is also dead. The wealth and glory of the past have nothing to do with me anymore. These secret treasures can be given to Chen Xuanji, but I have two requests."

Chen Chuan said, "Madam Cao, please tell me."

Empress Cao said, "My son Yuan Conglai has never done anything wrong. He is just a filial child. I heard that he was captured by your side. I do not ask your court to grant him a pardon. I only ask that he be spared from death."

Chen Chuan said, "Madam Cao, I can promise you that. Yuan Conglai has indeed done nothing wrong in the past, nor has he ever done anything to oppose us. We would not have listed him as a serious criminal in the first place."

Yuan Conglai was a prince without real power because Emperor Wenguang did not like him, and his own identity was sensitive, so he had almost no contact with outside officials.

The only thing he did was to be ordered to go north by Emperor Wenguang, which is nothing special. So he may be detained for a while, but he will be released once things settle down.

There might be surveillance in the future, but they won't do anything to him anymore, after all, Da Shun is no longer the feudal dynasty of the old era.

Empress Cao was somewhat relieved by his promise, and said, "The secret treasure belonged to my Cao family ancestors. I cannot betray my Cao family ancestors, so the descendants of the Cao family must also keep a share."

Ming Chengzi asked in surprise, "Hmm? Madam Cao, does your Cao family have any descendants besides you?"

Empress Cao nodded and said, "Yes, there is a family member in my lineage who lives elsewhere. I would like to entrust a secret treasure to him and ask Chen Xuanji to protect it."

Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and said, "Is the person Madam Cao mentioned someone who lives in Jibei Road?"

Empress Cao looked surprised: "Indeed, how did Xuanji know?"

Chen Chuan looked at her and said, "I am also a Taoist from Jibei. If nothing unexpected happens, I have a deep friendship with the person Madam Cao mentioned. He has helped me a lot in the past, so I can agree to this matter."

Empress Cao was both surprised and delighted. "I see. Then I can rest assured." With that, she bowed to Chen Chuan again.

Straightening up, she bowed to Bi Lingzi and said, "Disciple Xie Shibo has guarded my ancestors' treasures for three hundred years. Today, I will retrieve this item on behalf of my ancestors."

Upon hearing this, Pi Lingzi burst into laughter: "Very well, today I will return these to your Cao family lineage, and I will also be free."

As he uttered these words, everyone present could sense a slight change in his aura, which became more ethereal and otherworldly.

Empress Cao then took out a pendant that resembled a tooth carved from some kind of creature from her pouch and handed it to Chen Chuan with both hands, saying, "Xuanji, this is the token to retrieve the secret treasure."

Chen Chuan took it and felt its icy coldness. His mutated body tissue even felt a slight hunger, indicating that this thing was actually a rare and precious material.

Pi Lingzi rose from his seat and said to Chen Chuan with a smile, "Xuanji, the secret treasure is in the back mountain, hidden in three different places. I will take Xuanji there."

……

……

(End of this chapter)